Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous Continuous

TENSETENSE

FormForm<+> : S + had + been + V1-ing + object +

modifier

<-> : S + had + not + been + V1-ing + object + modifier

<?> : Had + S + been + V1-ing + object + modifier + ?

USE 1USE 1• Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.

Note : The duration does not continue until now,

it stops before something else in the past.

ExamplesExamplesTara had been waiting his girlfriend for over an hour before she arrived

ExamplesExamplesWhen it started to rain, we had been playing football for 2 hours

USE 2 USE 2 • Cause of Something in the Past

Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.

ExamplesExamples• Mr. Bean was tired because he had been

working all day long

ExamplesExamplesBetty failed the final test because she had not been studying before

Past Continuous Vs Past Perfect Past Continuous Vs Past Perfect Continuous Continuous

When the race started, it was raining and the streets were wet.(It was still raining during the race)

When the race started, it had been raining and the streets were wet.

(It wasn’t raining during the race. It had already stopped)

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